Philocothonista, or, The drunkard, opened, dissected, and anatomized

CHAP. XXI. Of the most horrid effects of Drunkennesse, and a Christian like admonition, to Sobriety and Temperance.

DOsitheus lib. 3. rer. sycular. writes, That Cyanippus Siracusanus sacrifi∣cing to the gods, amongst all the rest had neglected Bacchus the god of wine; for which, boing in∣raged, he sent the plague of Drunkennesse upon them, (as the greatest punishment he could in∣flict) who in the heat of his cups, meeting his daughter Cyane in a place remote and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, vici∣ated her Chastity; In which act (not knowing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the ravisher was) she wrung a Ring from his

singer, and after gave it to the keeping of her Nurse, as hoping by that token to find out in the future who had done her that outrage: In pro∣cesse, a great plague beginning in the City, and they sending to Apollo Pytheas, to know why the gods were so incenst against them; answere was returned by the Oracle, That to remove it thence and to appease the anger of the gods, an incesti∣ous man must be sacrificed. Cyane having sound by the ring, the intent of the Oracle (which none else apprehended) and that it pointed at the fa∣ther, she tooke him by the haire of his head and beard, and dragging him to the Altar slew him there, and presently her selfe fell upon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 same sword, and so died: Though this may to some appeare fabulous, yet hath our owne countrey afforded accidents in the like nature, as prodigi∣ous and strong. One Master Coverlee, a gentle∣man of quality and good desent, in the like dis∣temper wounded his Wife and slew his owne Children; whom I am the bolder to nominate, because the facinerous act hath by authority bin licensed to be acted on the publike Stage. And very lately in Wilt-shire, A yong gentleman well borne, but riotously conditioned, ran his sword through his owne mothers body, and slew her when shee came with her grave and Matron like advice, to counsell and diswade him from ryoti∣sing and lewd company.

Nay, have not some Husbands slainc their Wives, when they have come home from swil∣ling?

and Wives cut their husbands throats, after they have beene tipling? The Father hath flung his knife at the Mother, and missing her, kill'd the Child▪ one Brother hath slaine the o∣ther in the Taverne: and one man stab'd his deare friend in the Ale-house: I neede not wander far to inquire for these fearefull accidents, when this very Citie it selfe affords such frequent ex∣amples▪ Wine (saith one) is the blood of the •…•…arth, and the shame of those who abuse it: St. Ambrose saith, the first evill of drunkennesse, is the hazard of chastity. And Saint Augustine, It is a sweete sinne, a pleasant poyson, and a be∣witching devill.

Of this cursed (I may say) most contagious sinne (for commonly, one drunkard infecteth another) heare what the wise man, King Solo∣mon saith, Proverb. 23. Keepe not company with drunkards, nor with gluttons, for the glutton, and the drunkard shall be poore, and the sleeper shall be clothed with raggs: To whom is woe? To whom is sorrow: To whom is strife: To whom is mourning? To whom is wounds without cause? And to whom is the rednesse of the eyes? Even to thee that tarryest long at the Wine, to them that seeke mixt wine; looke not then upon the Wine when it is red, and when it sheweth his colour in the cup, or goeth downe pleasantly; In the end thereof, it will bite like a serpent, and hurt like a Cockatrice: Thine eyes shall looke upon strange Women, and thine heart shall

speake lewd things, and thou shalt be as one that sleeps in the midst of the sea, and as he that sleep∣eth on the top of the Mast. They have stricken me (shalt thou say) but I was not sicke; they have beaten me, but I knew not when I awoke, there∣fore will I seeke it yet still, Saint Luke 21. 3, 4. Take heede to your selues, least at any time your hearts bee oppressed with furfets and drunkennesse, and cares of this life, least that day come on you at unawares, for as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

Take therefore the Counsell of Boethius the Christian Philosopher and Poet, who speaketh thus: Then necessitie impells to a sober and up∣right life, when wee apprehend and consider, that all our actions, how private soever, are visible to him that shall judge them; Neither ought wee to delay the amending of our lives, or correcting of our manners, for as Saint Augustine saith: Dat penitenti veniam, fortasse non dabit peccanti penitentiam. i. Hee that gives pardon to the pe∣nitent sinner, will not perhaps give repentance to him that sinneth, for there is no man who drinks to day, that can presume to lift the cup to his head to morrow.

If lavish cups be not permitted to Kings and Princes, how much lesse to common men: Heare what the Wise-man saith, Proverbs 31. 4. It is not for Kings (Oh Lemuel) It is not for Kings to drinke Wine, nor for Princes strong drinke, least he drinke, and so forget the decree, and

change the judgement of all the children of Af∣fliction. To you therefore I speake (who are al∣together given over to this sinne) hated of God, and abhorred of all good men,) which St. Paul in his Epistle to the Ephesians 5. 17. And be not drunke with Wine, wherein is excesse, but bee satis∣fied with the spirit.

Let us therefore speake unto God, as if men did heare us: And live amongst men, as know∣ing that God seeth us, whose eyes peirce into the secrets of the prison, into the corners of the hearts, into the hiddennesse of time, and the con∣cealednesse of Eternitie: For not to the offen∣der, but to him that is offended, doth God grant pardon, saith Saint Augustine.

Iohannes Episcop. tells us, What doth carnall man know more, then warily to keepe his owne, and watchingly to scratch from another? Or if hee cannot compasse it, yet at least to desire it▪ But the heavenly Phisitian hath to all vices, made obvious vertues, as remedies. For as in the Art of Phisicke, they worke by contraries, ministring hot things to heale cold infirmities, and cold things to helpe hot diseases: So the Creator of the Heavens, the Earth, and vs, hath provided cordiall Medicine•…•… to cure contrary corrupt Maladies: To make sound the slothfull man, is to bee applyed Labour and Industrie: The Avaritious man, Bounty and Charity: The wrathfull man, Gentlenesse and Patience: The Proud, Humilitie and Lowlinesse: The drunken

man, Sobriety and Temperance. Let us then be swaid by Leo Pap. who tells us that wee ought all to labour (by the Almighties Grace and helpe, that he may in His owne Temple, which is our bodies, find nothing that may be offensive to the eyes of so Divine a Majestie, but let the Ta∣bernacle, and habitation of our hearts be cleane swept from all vices, and furnished with Vertues, keeping them still shut and lock't, against the Temptations of the devill, but alwayes open to receive our Redeemer.

Thus I conclude, beseeching the Almighty, that as our Nation being the most forward to commit this grievous and abominable sinne of drunkennesse, so it may be the first to expresse a true Repentance, and contrition for the same, that his heavy Iudgements, long threaten'd, and now impending, may be turned from us, which hee grant for His mercy sake, and Merits of His Sonne our blessed Saviour.

In Cratere meo, Thetis est conjuncta Lyaeo Est Dea Iuncta Deo, sed Dea major eo.

FINIS.